Carlo RAIMONDI (Bocche di Cattaro 1809 - Parma 1883) Paolo TOSCHI (Parma 1788 - 1854) "Sant'Agata" Original etching and engraving from a subject by Francesco Mazzola called il Parmigianino (Parma 1503 - Casalmaggiore 1540) painted in fresco around 1523 in the first chapel of the left aisle of the Monastery of San Giovanni in Parma, for the series entitled "Of all the frescoes by Correggio in Parma and four by Parmigianino designed and carved in copper by Paolo Toschi and his school" published files starting from 1844, conceived, designed and curated directly by Toschi and then by his school with the approval and financing of the Duchess Maria Luigia decided already since 1839 and of which will be table I. Beautiful specimen in the first state of four in the very rare proof version of first of all the letters, with the detail added to drypoint on the left side and the handwritten handwritten wording "Proof of remarks chosen by Paolo Toschi ”at the center of the low edge, printed on a sheet of thick unpinned paper, with large margins practically uncut beyond the imprint of the slab, in a generally perfect state of conservation. Apell claims that only thirty prints were made of the first state of these subjects. Medioli Masotti speaks of this type of evidence: "In the Avanti Letter copies of the reproduction series by Correggio and Parmigianino, the figures of angels or ornamental motifs are just mentioned with a burin between the copper footprint and the margin of the part engraved. The specimens marked by these figures have always passed the state test phase and represent excellent runs of the first state before letter; they usually came in homage to prominent personalities. The figurine was canceled with the burnisher before the specimens were drawn by letter. " A specimen like ours, which is also undergoing proof, is preserved in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The pathos of the scene painted by Parmigianino is greatly mitigated by Toschi who softens the features of the executioner and above all eliminates the bleeding very evident in the fresco from the breasts of the Saint. Bibliography: Apell "Handbuch fur Kupferstichsammler" Leipzig 1880 p. 433. Medioli Masotti "Paolo Toschi" Parma 1973 page 131 and page 154 No. 272. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/767035 Measurements in mm: 424ca x 302ca